Now he is in a secure house, cooking meals for hundreds of boat people, detained at several overcrowded immigration centers.

“I was suffering in the past and now that I am free, many of my friends are still facing terrible conditions and lack of food. I do not have any job now so I am cooking meals for them,” he explained.

Despite condemnation from human rights groups after video footage of mistreatment was aired, conditions for the men remain unchanged.

But mounting media reports implicating Thai security in the trafficking of some Rohingya seems to have gotten the attention of top officials.

“I know these are very crowded places. That is why we are going to expand the new center for them to stay. The new area will be more of a waiting camp. We will have a doctor and medical treatment available for them,” said Lt. General Paradorn Pattanatabu of the National Security Council.

As the six-month deadline nears for what was considered a “temporary stay” in Thailand, questions over where the Rohingya will end up still remain.